Springable shoe heel and attaching means



July 17, 1962 A. A. CAYO 3,044,191

SPRINGABLE SHOE HEEL AND ATTACHING MEANS Filed April 2, 1959 A/ven 4. C070 (QMM ATTOR/Vfk United States Patent Ofiice 3,044,191 SPRINGABLE SHOE HEELS AND ATTACHING lVIE Alven A. Cayo, 241 W. May St., Benton Harbor, Mich. Filed Apr. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 803,659 Claims. (Cl. 3634) This invention relates to a shoe heel unit which is adapted for attachment as such to shoes of different types. This application is a continuation-in-part of, my application forLetters Patent, filed December 26, 1957, Serial No. 705,357, now abandoned.

The main objects of this invention are,

First, to provide a spring heel unit which is adapted for attachment to shoes as a unit and having a springable portion positioned centrally of the heel to springably cushion the load on the heel.

Second, to provide a heel unit including attaching prongs which enable the heel unit being very securely attached to the heel portion of a shoe sole and one in which the attaching means are entirely concealed from the exterior of the shoe and its heel.

Third, to provide a heel structure having these advantages in which the heel is secured to the shoe body in a manner and so that the stresses upon the heel portion of the sole are widely distributed.

screw or rivet 7 or the like, which is illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 1. The heel plate member 3, the heel member 4 and their springable connection 12 are formed integrally of a sheet metal stamping, a blank of which is illustrated in FIG. 8. I Y

The heel plate member 3 is dimensioned to supportedly 5 and 8 for approximately one-third the front to rear or twisted in use.

Fourth, to provide a structure having the above advantages which may be very economically produced and in which the heel unit may be economically and rapidly assembled with other preformed portions of a shoe.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe with the heel unit of my invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section on a line corresponding to line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the heel unit. a

FIG. .6 is a perspective View of the attaching member which constitutes a unitary part of the assembled heel unit.

FIG. 7 is a transverse section of the heel on a line corresponding to line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the blank from which the heel unit proper is formed.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the shoe designated generally by the numeral 1 is provided with a closed heel portion 2, but it will be understood that the unit of my invention may be applied to any type of shoe, particularly ladies shoes.

The heel unit of my invention comprises the heel plate member 3, the depending heel member 4 which is nonspringable under normal use loads or stresses, but which is springably connected to the heel plate member 3 by the springable member 12 which is springable under contemplated use loads. The. heel member 4 is forwardly curved longitudinally thereof and is transversely curved which stiffens it so that it is not springable under contemplated use loads but it is springably connected to the heel plate member by the springable member 12 which length of the heel plate member. The portion 12 of the heel plate member between these slits projects downwardly and forwardly from and curvedly merges into the heelplate member and into the heel member-.4 which,

as stated, is substantially nonspringable. This insures that the springing or yielding is at a predetermined point and directly below the heel of the wearer. The heel portion 12 is rigid so that it does not become distorted At the same time its springable connection to the heel plate member is vertically springable under predetermined load or normal use loads. As stated, the heel plate member 3, the heel member 4 and their connecting springable member 12 are formed integrally ofa sheet metal blank which is illustrated in FIG. 8.

The preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated includes an attachingmember 13 of forwardly facing U-shape disposed on the upper side of the heel plate, member and fixedly secured thereto by means of spot welds indicated at 14. The'arms of this attaching memmerges into the heel member and merges into the heel ber extend to substantially the front edge of the heel plate member as is illustrated in FIG. 5, and its outer edges are spaced from the outer edges of the heel plate member. These outer edges of. the heel plate member, it will be noted, project above the plane of this attaching member 13. The attaching member is provided with integral prongs 15 and 16, the prongs 15 being'arranged in opposed pairs and projecting from the side edges of the attaching member, and the prong 16 projecting from the rear end or edge thereof. These sprongs are of substantial width or cross-section and are pointed so that they can be driven or forced through the heel portion of the shoe sole and clinched on the upper surface thereof, as is indicated at 17. In FIG. 2 the prongs are indicated in their clinched position and as being inserted through the heel portion 8 of the shoe sole. The prongs being arrangedin opposed pairs when driven through or forced through the heel portion of the shoe sole, as is illustrated, and clinched thereon, provide a very effec tive anchorage and minimize the tearing stress on the shoe sole. The rear prong 16 is desirably centrally located, although it should be pointed out that the number of prongs may be varied, but in any event there should be a plurality of them. While it is desirable, it is not essential to an effective connection that the prongs 15 be arranged in opposed pairs, that is, they might be stag. gered.

The heel illustrated is formed of two parts and these are integrally connected. There are no visible attaching means when the heel plate member is attached to the shoe and it presents a highly attractive appearance. The springable connection for the heel to the heel plate member being located at the juncture of the heel "plate member insures that there is no lateral springable distortion of the heel possible under normal use conditions, that is, the springability is entirely vertical and it is definitely located and the springing does not result in slipping stresses on the lift 6. It is desired, however, to point out that the springable feature may be omitted from the unit Where that is desired, and that may be Patented July 17, 1962.

accomplished simply by cross-sectionally conforming'the portion 12 to eliminate or substantially eliminate the springability thereof. Such a structure has the same attaehing advantages.

' I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly 7 practical embodiment thereof. Ihave not attempted to illustrate or describe other possible modifications and modifications which might be desirable for particular conditions, as it is believed that. this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art toembody or adapt my invention is y be desired. 1 7 V Having thus described 1. 'A' heel unit for shoes comprising integral heel plate andfheel members formed of sheetmetal stock of uni- I form -thickness,'the heel member being forwardly curved and of curved cross section and terminating at its lower end' in a rearwardly projecting tab adapted to have a nonmetallic lift attached thereto, the heel plate member member being nonspringable undernormal use load, and

a'n'attaching member of forwardly facingU-shape disposed fonthe upper. side of said heel plate memberwith the forward ends of its arms at theouter sides of said slit therein, said attaching member being fittingly conformed to said heel plate member and fixedly secured V thereto to constitute an assembled unit therewith with its a outer side and rear edges in inwardly spaced relation to the side and rear edges of said heel plate member and haying pointed upwardly projecting bendable shoe attaching prongs of flat section on its outer edges.

2, A unitary heel for shoes comprising a heel plate and, heel members formedv integrally of. one piece of sheet metal ,stock of uniform thickness, the heel memher being forwardly'curved and cross sectionally conformed to eliminate springing thereof under normal use load, the heel plate member comprising a central portion and upwardly curved side and rear portions merging into thecentral portion, the heel plate member having laterally spaced slits extending rearwardly from its front edge, the portion of the heel plate member between the slits projecting, downwardly and forwardly from the plane of the under side of the heel plate member and merging into the heel member and constituting a springable connection therefor/tothe heel plate member, and an attaching'inemberofforwardly facing U-shape disposed on the upper side of the. heel plate member and fixedly secured thereto, said attaching'member having upwardly projecting shoe. attaching prongs of flat section on its outer edges. I

the inventiomwhat is claimed as new and'desired to secure by Letters .Patent is:

3. A heel for shoes comprising a heel plate member and a heel member formed integrally of sheet metal stock, the heel member being forwardly curved and without springability under normal use load, the heel plate member being adapted to supportingly receive the heel portion of a shoe sole and having laterally spaced slits extending rear-wardly from its front edge, the portion thereof between the slits projecting downwardly and forwardly from the plane of the under side of the heel plate member and merginginto the heel member and constituting a springable connection therefor to the heel plate member, and an attaching member disposed on the upper side of said heel plate member fixedly secured thereto with its outer edges in spaced relation to the side and rear edges of said heel plate member and having integral upwardly projecting shoe attaching prongs of flat section projectingtherefrom.

4. A unitary heel forshoes comprlsing a heel plate and heel member formed of sheet metal stock of uniform thickness, the heel member being cross sectionally conformed to substantially eliminate springing thereof under normal use load, the heel plate membercornprising a central portion and upwardly curved side and rear portions merging into the central portion, the heel plate member having laterally spaced slits extending rearwardly fro-m'it-s front edge for approximately one-third the length thereof, the portion of the heel plate member between the slits projecting downwardly and forwardly and from the plane of the underside of the heel plate member and merging into the heel member and constituting a springable connection therefor to the heel plate member.

5. A spring heel unit for shoescomprising integral 1 heel plate, and heel members, the heel member being forwardly curved and terminating in a tab adapted to receive a lift,.the heelplate member being adaptedfor attachment to the heel portiono'f a shoe and having laterally spaced slits extending rearwardly from the front edge thereof, the portion of the heel plate member between the slits being of flat section and curvedly merging into the heel member and constituting a springable connection for the heel member to the heel plate member, the heel memher being nonspringable under use load.

Referencesv Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 357,062 Buch Feb. 1, 1887 1,119,555 Wesp Dec; 1, 1914 1 1,564,527 Cangen Dec. 8, 1925 1,625,048 Nook Apr. 19, 1927 2,005,775 Dopp June 25, 1935 2,117,475 Gordon et al May 17, 1938 2,187,756 Schwellenbach Jan. 23, 1940 2,447,603 Snyder Aug. 24, 1948 r 2,508,313 7 Wallach May 16, 19 50 

